JP7121105B2 - Device for supplying active material and manufacturing device for battery electrode - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an active material supply device and a battery electrode manufacturing device.

As a method for manufacturing a battery, a molding method is known in which a powdery active material is placed on a current collector and pressed to integrate them. For example, there is a method of filling an active material inside a frame provided on a current collector (Patent Document 1). Also, there is a method of arranging an active material inside a frame provided on a current collector (Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 6633866 JP 2019-207750 A

When the active material supply device places the active material on the current collector in a chamber whose pressure is reduced below atmospheric pressure, the active material is temporarily deposited in the active material supply device. At this time, the active material may form lumps in the active material supply device. As a result, the active material may clog the active material supply device. In addition, when a lump is placed on the current collector, molding defects such as cracks may occur in the electrode obtained after pressing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an active material supplying apparatus capable of turning a lumpy active material into powder.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
An active material supply device according to the present invention is an active material supply device that supplies a powdery active material onto a current collector that is transported in a chamber whose interior is evacuated below atmospheric pressure, wherein the chamber a hopper disposed inside and having a supply port for supplying the active material onto the current collector; and a crushing mechanism disposed in the hopper and crushing lumps of the active material contained in the active material. , has

According to this invention, the active material supply device has the crushing mechanism in the hopper. Thereby, the lump-like active material deposited in the hopper can be powdered. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the active material from being clogged in the active material supply device and from placing a lump of active material on the current collector.

Further, the crushing mechanism may have a rotor that rotates around a predetermined axis, and a mesh-like screen that is arranged below the rotor.

According to this invention, the crushing mechanism has a rotor and a mesh screen. As a result, the rotation of the rotor loosens the lumpy active material and makes it finer with the screen. This makes it possible to more effectively pulverize the lumped active material.

Further, an apparatus for manufacturing a battery electrode according to the present invention includes a chamber whose interior is evacuated below atmospheric pressure, a conveying device for conveying a current collector in the chamber in the longitudinal direction of the current collector, and and the active material supply device arranged in a chamber for supplying a powdered active material onto the current collector moving in the chamber.

According to this invention, the active material supply device is arranged in the chamber whose pressure is reduced below atmospheric pressure. As a result, the powdery active material can be directly supplied into the decompressed chamber. Therefore, air can be prevented from remaining in the active material placed on the current collector. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defective molding in the active material after press molding.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an active material supplying apparatus capable of powdering a lump-like active material.

It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the battery which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the single cell which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a side view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a battery electrode according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the active material supply device shown in FIG. 3; FIG.

An embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
In the drawings used in the following description, characteristic parts may be shown enlarged for the sake of convenience for the purpose of emphasizing the characteristic parts. do not have. Also, for the same purpose, there are cases in which uncharacteristic portions are omitted from the drawings.

<Battery (secondary battery)>
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a battery 10 of one embodiment.
A battery (secondary battery) 10 of the present embodiment is a lithium ion secondary battery, which is a type of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. Here, the lithium ion secondary battery is a secondary battery that charges and discharges by moving lithium ions between the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b. Hereinafter, when the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b are referred to without distinction, they are referred to as an electrode (battery electrode) 30 .

The battery 10 can also be applied to any conventionally known secondary battery such as a so-called parallel stacked battery in which electrodes are connected in parallel in a power generation element. In the following description, the lithium ion secondary battery is simply called "battery".

The battery 10 of the present embodiment has a power generating element 11, a positive electrode tab 34a, a negative electrode tab 34b, and an exterior body 12.

The positive electrode tab 34 a contacts the end surface of the power generation element 11 on the positive electrode side. Similarly, the negative electrode tab 34b contacts the end surface of the power generation element 11 on the negative electrode side. The positive electrode tab 34a and the negative electrode tab 34b are pulled out of the exterior body 12, respectively. A highly conductive material such as an aluminum alloy or a copper alloy is used for the positive electrode tab 34a and the negative electrode tab 34b.

The exterior body 12 seals the power generation element 11 inside in order to prevent impact from the outside and environmental deterioration. The exterior body 12 is configured in a bag shape by, for example, a laminate film. A metal can case or the like may be used as the exterior body 12 .

The power generating element 11 of the battery 10 of this embodiment has a plurality of single cells (battery cells) 20 . In the power generating element 11, the multiple single cells 20 are stacked in the thickness direction. The number of stacked unit cells 20 is adjusted according to the desired voltage.

<Single cell (battery cell)>
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the unit cell 20. As shown in FIG.
The unit cell 20 has a positive electrode 30 a and a negative electrode 30 b as two electrodes (battery electrodes) and a separator 40 .

The separator 40 is arranged between the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b. In the power generating element 11, the plurality of unit cells 20 are stacked with the positive electrodes 30a and the negative electrodes 30b directed in the same direction. In the power generation element 11, the positive electrode tab 34a is in contact with the positive electrode 30a of the unit cell 20 arranged at the end portion on the positive electrode side in the stacking direction, and the negative electrode of the unit cell 20 arranged at the end portion on the negative electrode side in the stacking direction. A negative electrode tab 34b contacts 30b.

The separator 40 holds an electrolyte. Thereby, the separator 40 functions as an electrolyte layer. The separator 40 is arranged between the electrode active material layers 32 of the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b to prevent them from coming into contact with each other. Thereby, the separator 40 functions as a partition wall between the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b.

The electrolyte retained in the separator 40 includes, for example, an electrolytic solution or a gel polymer electrolyte. High lithium ion conductivity is ensured by using these electrolytes. Examples of the form of the separator include porous sheet separators and non-woven fabric separators made of polymers or fibers that absorb and retain the electrolyte.

The positive electrode 30 a and the negative electrode 30 b each have a current collector 31 , an electrode active material layer 32 and a frame 45 . The electrode active material layer 32 and the current collector 31 are arranged in this order from the separator 40 side. The frame 45 is frame-shaped (annular). The frame 45 surrounds the electrode active material layer 32 . The frame 45 of the positive electrode 30a and the frame 45 of the negative electrode 30b are welded together and integrated.

In the following description, when distinguishing between the electrode active material layers 32 of the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b, they are referred to as a positive electrode active material layer 32a and a negative electrode active material layer 32b, respectively.

The frame 45 prevents contact between the current collectors 31 and short-circuiting at the ends of the unit cells 20 . As a material for forming the frame 45, any material having insulating properties, sealing properties (liquid-tightness), heat resistance under the battery operating temperature, etc. may be used, and a resin material is preferably employed.

The current collector 31 is a conductive sheet-like member. The material constituting the current collector 31 is not particularly limited, but for example, conductive resin or metal can be used. From the viewpoint of weight reduction, the current collector 31 is preferably a resin current collector made of a conductive resin. From the viewpoint of blocking the movement of lithium ions between the single cells 20, a metal layer may be provided on a part of the current collector 31 made of resin.

Examples of the conductive resin that constitutes the current collector 31 made of resin include a resin obtained by adding a conductive filler to a conductive polymer material or a non-conductive polymer material as necessary. Examples of conductive polymer materials include polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, polyacetylene, polyparaphenylene, polyphenylene vinylene, and polyoxadiazole. Such a conductive polymer material has sufficient conductivity without adding a conductive filler, and is therefore advantageous in terms of facilitating the manufacturing process and reducing the weight of the current collector.

Examples of non-conductive polymer materials include polyethylene (PE; high-density polyethylene (H
DPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), etc.), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethernitrile (PEN), polyimide (PI), polyamideimide (PAI), polyamide (PA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polymethyl acrylate (PMA), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), or polystyrene (PS) ) and the like. Such non-conductive polymeric materials can have excellent electrical potential or solvent resistance.

Any electrically conductive filler can be used without particular limitation. Examples of materials having excellent conductivity, potential resistance, or lithium ion blocking properties include metals and conductive carbon. The metal is not particularly limited, but at least one metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, titanium, aluminum, copper, platinum, iron, chromium, tin, zinc, indium, antimony, and potassium, or these metals It is preferable to include alloys or metal oxides containing Also, the conductive carbon is not particularly limited. Preferably, from the group consisting of acetylene black, Vulcan (registered trademark), Black Pearl (registered trademark), carbon nanofiber, Ketjenblack (registered trademark), carbon nanotube (CNT), carbon nanohorn, carbon nanoballoon, and fullerene It is preferable to include at least one selected.

The amount of the conductive filler added is not particularly limited as long as it is an amount that can impart sufficient conductivity to the current collector 31, and is preferably about 5 to 35% by mass, more preferably 10 to 30% by mass. Yes, more preferably 15 to 20% by mass.

When the current collector 31 is made of metal, examples of the metal include aluminum, nickel, iron, stainless steel, titanium, and copper. In addition to these, a clad material of nickel and aluminum, a clad material of copper and aluminum, or a plated material of these metals can be preferably used. Alternatively, a foil in which a metal surface is coated with aluminum may be used. Among them, aluminum, stainless steel, copper, and nickel are preferable from the viewpoint of electronic conductivity, battery operating potential, adhesion of the negative electrode active material to the current collector 31 by sputtering, and the like.

The electrode active material layer 32 has electrode active material (positive electrode active material or negative electrode active material) and electrode granulated particles (hereinafter simply granulated particles) containing a conductive aid. Moreover, the electrode active material layer 32 may further contain either one or both of an electrolytic solution and an adhesive as needed. Moreover, the electrode active material layer 32 may contain an ion conductive polymer or the like, if necessary.
In the following description, when the electrode active materials of the positive electrode active material layer 32a and the negative electrode active material layer 32b are distinguished from each other, they are called a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material, respectively.

Examples of positive electrode active materials include lithium-transition metal composite oxides such as LiMn2O4, LiCoO2, LiNiO2, Li(Ni--Mn--Co)O2 and those in which a portion of these transition metals are replaced with other elements; Examples include lithium-transition metal phosphate compounds and lithium-transition metal sulfate compounds. In some cases, two or more positive electrode active materials may be used together. From the viewpoint of capacity and output characteristics, lithium-transition metal composite oxides are preferably used as the positive electrode active material. A composite oxide containing lithium and nickel is more preferably used. More preferably, Li(Ni-Mn-Co)O2 and those in which a part of these transition metals are replaced with other elements (hereinafter referred to as "NMC composite oxide"), or lithium-nickel-cobalt-aluminum Composite oxides and the like are used. The NMC composite oxide has a layered crystal structure in which lithium atomic layers and transition metal (Mn, Ni and Co are arranged in an orderly manner) atomic layers are alternately stacked via oxygen atomic layers. In addition, one Li atom is contained per transition metal atom, and the amount of Li that can be taken out is double that of the spinel-based lithium manganese oxide, that is, the supply capacity is doubled, and a high capacity can be obtained.

Examples of negative electrode active materials include carbon materials such as graphite (graphite), soft carbon, hard carbon, lithium-transition metal composite oxides (e.g., Li4Ti5O12), metal materials (tin, silicon), lithium alloy negative electrode materials ( For example, lithium-tin alloy, lithium-silicon alloy, lithium-aluminum alloy, lithium-aluminum-manganese alloy, etc.). In some cases, two or more kinds of negative electrode active materials may be used together. Carbon materials, lithium-transition metal composite oxides, and lithium alloy negative electrode materials are preferably used as the negative electrode active material from the viewpoint of capacity and output characteristics. Needless to say, negative electrode active materials other than those described above may be used. In addition, coating resins such as (meth)acrylate copolymers have the property of being particularly prone to adhere to carbon materials. Therefore, from the viewpoint of providing a structurally stable electrode material, it is preferable to use a carbon material as the negative electrode active material.

The conductive aid forms an electron conduction path and reduces the electron transfer resistance of the electrode active material layer 32, thereby contributing to the improvement of high-rate output characteristics of the battery. The shape of the conductive aid is preferably particulate or fibrous.

Examples of conductive aids include metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, silver, gold, copper, and titanium, alloys containing these metals, and metal oxides; carbon fibers (specifically, vapor grown carbon fibers (VGCF) etc.), carbon nanotubes (CNT), carbon nanofibers, carbon black (specifically, acetylene black, Ketjenblack (registered trademark), furnace black, channel black, thermal lamp black, etc.). , but not limited to. In addition, a particulate ceramic material or resin material coated with the above metal material by plating or the like can also be used as a conductive aid. Among these conductive aids, from the viewpoint of electrical stability, it is preferable to include at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, silver, gold, copper, titanium, and carbon. , silver, gold, and carbon, and more preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon. These conductive aids may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The electrolytic solution (liquid electrolyte) has a form in which a lithium salt is dissolved in a solvent. Examples of the solvent that constitutes the electrolytic solution of the present invention include carbonates such as ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), and ethyl methyl carbonate. Lithium salts include inorganic acid lithium salts such as LiPF6, LiBF4, LiSbF6, LiAsF6LiClO4, Li[(FSO2)2N] (LiFSI), LiN(CF3SO2)2, LiN(C2F5SO2)2, and LiC(CF3SO2)3. and lithium salts of organic acids of. The lithium salt concentration in the electrolytic solution is preferably 0.1 to 3.0M, more preferably 0.8 to 2.2M. In addition, when using an additive, the amount used is preferably 0.5 to 10% by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 5% by mass, with respect to 100% by mass of the electrolytic solution before adding the additive. be.

Examples of additives include vinylene carbonate, methylvinylene carbonate, dimethylvinylene carbonate, phenylvinylene carbonate, diphenylvinylene carbonate, ethylvinylene carbonate, diethylvinylene carbonate, vinylethylene carbonate, 1,2-divinylethylene carbonate, 1-methyl- 1-vinylethylene carbonate, 1-methyl-2-vinylethylene carbonate, 1-ethyl-1-vinylethylene carbonate, 1-ethyl-2-vinylethylene carbonate, vinylvinylene carbonate, allylethylene carbonate, vinyloxymethylethylene carbonate, allyloxymethylethylene carbonate, acryloxymethylethylene carbonate, methacryloxymethylethylene carbonate, ethynylethylene carbonate, propargylethylene carbonate, ethynyloxymethylethylene carbonate, propargyloxyethylene carbonate, methyleneethylene carbonate, 1,1-dimethyl-2-methylene ethylene carbonate and the like. Among them, vinylene carbonate, methylvinylene carbonate and vinylethylene carbonate are preferred, and vinylene carbonate and vinylethylene carbonate are more preferred. These cyclic carbonates may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

Examples of adhesives include (meth)acrylic acid ester-based pressure-sensitive adhesives such as Polysic (registered trademark) series. The content of the adhesive in the granulated particles is preferably 0.01 to 10% by mass, more preferably 0.01 to 8% by mass, based on the total mass of the solid content of the granulated particles. Yes, more preferably 0.1 to 5% by mass, particularly preferably 0.1 to 3% by mass.

Ion-conducting polymers include, for example, known polyoxyalkylene oxide polymers based on polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polypropylene oxide (PPO).

<Battery Electrode Manufacturing Apparatus and Battery Electrode Manufacturing Method>
Next, an apparatus for manufacturing the battery electrodes (positive electrode 30a and negative electrode 30b) of the present embodiment will be described.
The current collector 31 is provided by appropriately cutting the strip-shaped current collector 31</b>B in the manufacturing process of the electrode 30 . The strip-shaped current collector 31B is rolled and stored before being put into the manufacturing apparatus. The belt-shaped current collector 31B stored in a roll shape in this manner is referred to as a current collector roll 31R.
In this embodiment, the method of forming the current collector 31 from the strip-shaped current collector 31B is preferably used, but other methods may be used.
When the positive electrode active material layer 32a and the negative electrode active material layer 32b are referred to without distinction, they are referred to as an active material 32c. The active material 32c means a plurality of electrode granulated particles containing an electrode active material and a conductive aid. The active material 32c is powdery.

The method for manufacturing the positive electrode 30 a and the method for manufacturing the negative electrode 30 b mainly differ in the electrode active material contained in the electrode active material layer 32 . Therefore, there is no difference in manufacturing equipment between the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b. Here, a manufacturing apparatus (battery electrode manufacturing apparatus) 1000 will be described as the electrode 30 manufacturing apparatus.
As shown in FIG. 3, the manufacturing apparatus 1000 includes a chamber 100, a conveying device 200, an active material supply device 300, a roll press 400, a frame body supply device 500, a current collector expansion device 600, an inlet 700;

The chamber 100 is a room whose interior can be kept under a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure. The pressure inside the chamber 100 is reduced below atmospheric pressure by a decompression pump (not shown). The pressure inside the ^chamber 100 may be any value as long as it is ^reduced below the atmospheric pressure. It may be adjusted, may be adjusted to be a high vacuum environment of 1×10 ⁻⁶ to 1×10 ⁻⁷ Pa, or an ultrahigh vacuum of 10 ⁻⁸ to 10 ⁻⁹ or higher. It may be an extremely high vacuum of Pa level. The standard atmospheric pressure is approximately 1013 hPa (approximately 10 ⁵ Pa).
Chamber 100 is hollow. Inside the chamber 100, the strip-shaped current collector 31B is transported.
In the chamber 100, the major steps involved in manufacturing the battery of this embodiment are carried out. That is, a step of placing the powdery active material 32c on the belt-like current collector 31B, pressing the placed active material 32c, and installing the frame 45 is performed. Inside the chamber 100, at least a transport device 200, an active material supply device 300, a roll press 400, and a frame body supply device 500 are provided. In this embodiment, the strip-shaped current collector 31B is inserted into the chamber 100 from the outside. Therefore, the chamber 100 is provided with a first slit 110 as an entrance of the strip-shaped current collector 31B.
During the manufacture of the battery according to this embodiment, the pressure inside the chamber 100 is reduced below atmospheric pressure. This prevents air from remaining inside the active material.

The transport device 200 transports the strip-shaped current collector 31B in the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped current collector 31B within the chamber 100 . Further, as the transporting device 200, a first transporting device 210 is provided upstream of the roll press 400, and a second transporting device 220 is provided downstream of the roll press 400 in the transport direction of the strip-shaped current collector 31B. The first conveying device 210 and the second conveying device 220 are, for example, known belt conveyors. An active material supply device 300 is provided above the first transport device 210 . A frame supply device 500 is provided above the second conveying device 220 . It should be noted that the first conveying device 210 and the second conveying device 220 may be collectively referred to as the conveying device 200 below.

The active material supplying device 300 places the active material 32c on the strip-shaped current collector 31B that is transported into the chamber 100 by the transporting device 200 . As shown in FIG. 4, the active material supply device 300 includes a screw conveyor 310, an input chute 320, a crusher 330 (hopper), an ultrasonic vibrator 340, a shutter unit 350, a leveling brush 360, Prepare.
The screw conveyor 310 conveys the active material 32 c to the active material supply device 300 . One end of the screw conveyor 310 is connected to a reservoir or the like (not shown) for the active material 32c. The other end of screw conveyor 310 is connected to input chute 320 .

The input chute 320 conveys the active material 32 c conveyed from the screw conveyor 310 to the crusher 330 . The other end of the screw conveyor 310 is connected to one side surface of the input chute 320 . The upper surface of the crusher 330 is connected to the lower surface of the input chute 320 . As a result, the active material 32c that has been horizontally introduced into the injection chute 320 by the screw conveyor 310 is introduced into the crusher 330 by free fall.

The crusher 330 is provided above the strip-shaped current collector 31B that is conveyed inside the chamber 100 . An input chute 320 is provided above the crusher 330 . A shutter unit 350 is provided under the crusher 330 .
Here, the active material 32c charged into the crusher 330 from the charging chute 320 may be lumpy due to the nature of the material. If the active material 32c is placed on the strip-shaped current collector 31B in this state, the performance of the completed electrode 30 is affected. The crusher 330 has a role of crushing the active material 32c before being placed in order to solve this problem.

The crusher 330 includes a discharge chute 331 (supply port), a rotor 332 and a screen 333 . The discharge chute 331 is a container that receives the active material 32c introduced from the introduction chute 320 . In this embodiment, it is assumed that the discharge chute 331 has an open lower end and is arranged inside the chamber 100 . As a result, the active material 32c is placed on the strip-shaped current collector 31B in the chamber 100, which is decompressed.

The rotor 332 is a rotating member arranged within the discharge chute 331 . The rotor 332 rotates around a predetermined axis within the discharge chute 331 . The axis is, for example, preferably horizontal, and more preferably a horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the conveying device 200 .
The rotor 332 includes, for example, a disk portion 332a and a plurality of columnar portions 332b arranged between the disk portions 332a.

The disk portions 332 a are disk-shaped members provided in a pair on the axis of the rotor 332 . The disk portion 332 a has a disk-shaped flat surface that is provided in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the rotor 332 . Both the centers of the pair of disk portions 332 a are provided on the axis of the rotor 332 .
The cylindrical portion 332b is a cylindrical member provided between the pair of disk portions 332a. The columnar portion 332b is provided, for example, such that the columnar axis is parallel to the axis of the rotor 332 . Also, the plurality of columnar portions 332b are provided at intervals on the outer edge portion of the disc portion 332a. In this embodiment, it is assumed that six cylindrical portions 332b are provided between a pair of disk portions 332a.
The active material 32c put into the discharge chute 331 is agitated by coming into contact with the rotating rotor 332 . As a result, the lumped active material 32c is pulverized.

The screen 333 is arranged below the rotor 332 within the discharge chute 331 . The screen 333 is a net-like (mesh-like) member. The screen 333 serves as a sieve to make the active material 32c pulverized by the rotor 332 finer. The screen 333 is sandwiched between the screen 333 and the rotor 332 in which the active material block 32c rotates, and has a role of pulverizing the active material block 32c.
Hereinafter, the rotor 332 and the screen 333 may be collectively referred to as a crushing mechanism.

The ultrasonic vibrator 340 is provided on the outer wall below the discharge chute 331 . That is, it is provided outside the portion where the active material 32c pulverized by the rotor 332 and the screen 333 is deposited. The ultrasonic vibrator 340 has the role of vibrating the active material 32c deposited on the lower portion of the discharge chute 331 (on the screen 333) by generating ultrasonic waves to even out the deposited active material 32c. For example, the ultrasonic vibrator 340 confirms the height of the deposited active material 32c with a height sensor (not shown), and activates and starts vibrating when the height exceeds a certain height, so that the active material 32c A method of smoothing out the height of is preferably used. Alternatively, the ultrasonic vibrator 340 may be activated all the time.

The shutter unit 350 is provided at the lower end of the open discharge chute 331 as described above. That is, directly above the shutter unit 350, the active material 32c pulverized by the pulverizer 330 is deposited. By opening and closing the shutter unit 350 in this state, the active material 32c drops onto the strip-shaped current collector 31B that is transported through the chamber 100. FIG. Thus, the active material 32c is placed on the strip-shaped current collector 31B.

The shutter unit 350 includes a first shutter door 351 , a second shutter door 352 and an opening/closing mechanism 353 . In the present embodiment, the first shutter door 351 is provided in the chamber 100 on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the strip-shaped current collector 31B. The second shutter door 352 is provided on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the strip-shaped current collector 31B.

The opening/closing mechanism 353 reciprocates the first shutter door 351 in the moving direction of the strip-shaped current collector 31B. This opens and closes the shutter unit 350 . Thus, the active material 32c is placed on the strip-shaped current collector 31B. For the opening/closing mechanism 353 , for example, a feed screw mechanism having a moving part provided on the first shutter door 351 and a base part provided on the side of the discharge chute 331 is preferably used. Alternatively, any mechanism may be used as long as it can move the first shutter door 351 in the front-rear direction.
The amount of the active material 32c placed on the strip-shaped current collector 31B is adjusted by appropriately opening and closing the shutter unit 350 in accordance with the movement of the strip-shaped current collector 31B transported by the transport device 200. FIG. Thereby, the amount of the active material 32c placed on the strip-shaped current collector 31B is precisely controlled.

The leveling brush 360 is provided in the lower part inside the discharge chute 331 . The leveling brush 360 reciprocates near the upper surface of the deposited active material 32 c inside the discharge chute 331 . Accordingly, it cooperates with the ultrasonic vibrator 340 to even out the height of the active material 32 c deposited inside the discharge chute 331 .

The roll press 400 is provided between the first transport device 210 and the second transport device 220 within the chamber 100 . The roll press 400 press-forms the active material 32c placed on the strip-shaped current collector 31B in the chamber 100 in the above-described process together with the strip-shaped current collector 31B. This serves to fix the active material 32c to the strip-shaped current collector 31B.

At this time, air may remain inside the active material 32c if the above mounting is performed in the atmospheric pressure. If press molding is performed by the roll press 400 in this state, the compressed air expands after pressing, causing problems such as popping of the active material 32c and roughening of the surface of the active material 32c. In contrast, in the present embodiment, the steps of placing the active material 32c and press-molding are performed inside the chamber 100 decompressed as described above. As a result, the above operation can be performed without air remaining in the active material 32c.
The active material 32 c that has been conveyed from the first conveying device 210 to the roll press 400 and press-molded is conveyed to the second conveying device 220 .

The frame supply device 500 is provided on the second conveying device 220 . The frame supply device 500 installs the frame 45 around the active material 32c press-molded by the above-described process. The frame supply device 500 includes a support 510 , a moving rail 520 and a follower rail 530 .
The supporter 510 grips the frame 45 prepared in advance in the chamber 100 and moves around the active material 32c transported on the second transporter 220 .

Support 510 comprises a base 511 and a gripping arm 512 . The base 511 is installed on a sliding portion 532 (described later) of the follower rail 530 .
A gripping arm 512 is connected to the base 511 . The grip arm 512 is a part that grips the frame 45 . The gripping arm 512 is vertically movable by the base 511 . As a method for gripping the frame 45 by the gripping arm 512 , for example, a method of adsorbing the frame 45 to the tip of the gripping arm 512 by using the adsorption portion 513 is preferably used.

The moving rail 520 moves the support 510 in the direction intersecting (in this embodiment, the direction perpendicular to) the transport direction of the transport device 200 within the chamber 100 . In the present embodiment, the moving rails 520 are a pair of cylindrical members arranged in parallel with the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the conveying device 200 as the longitudinal direction. Mounting portions 531 provided at both ends of a following rail 530 to be described later are attached to the pair of moving rails 520 respectively.

The follower rail 530 is a part on which the support 510 is installed. In this embodiment, the follower rail 530 is a cylindrical member, and is provided with the transport direction of the transport device 200 as its longitudinal direction. The follower rail 530 includes a mounting portion 531 and a sliding portion 532 .
The mounting portions 531 are provided at both ends of the follower rail 530 . The attachment portion 531 is attached to each of the pair of moving rails 520 . The mounting portion 531 is movable in the longitudinal direction of the moving rail 520 . As a result, the following rail 530 translates in the longitudinal direction of the moving rail 520 .

The sliding portion 532 is a cylindrical portion of the follower rail 530 . As described above, the support 510 is attached to the sliding portion 532 . As a result, the support 510 moves in the longitudinal direction of the moving rail 520 along with the following rail 530 .
With these, the frame supply device 500 lifts the frame 45 prepared on the side of the second conveying device 220 by the supporting member 510, moves it to the upper part of the second conveying device 220 by the moving rail 520, and forms a belt-shaped frame. It is installed on the current collector 31B.

When the frame 45 is placed on the strip-shaped current collector 31B, the frame 45 is moved by the moving rails 520 only in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport device 200, and aligned with the position of the active material 32c. It is installed by lowering the frame body 45 .
Alternatively, the support 510 may be moved in the longitudinal direction of the follow-up rail 530, that is, in the transport direction of the transport device 200, at the same time as the frame 45 is lowered. That is, the frame 45 may be installed while moving the support 510 in accordance with the moving direction and moving speed of the strip-shaped current collector 31B by the conveying device 200 .

The current collector spreading device 600 supplies strip-shaped current collectors 31B into the chamber 100 . In this embodiment, the current collector spreading device 600 is provided outside the chamber 100 .
The current collector spreading device 600 includes a roll holder 610 , a splicer 620 and a feed roller 630 .

The roll holding portion 610 holds the current collector roll 31R. The roll holding portion 610 includes a support portion 611 , a roll changer 612 , a rotating portion 613 and a mounting portion 614 .
The strut portion 611 is a base portion of the roll holding portion 610 . The strut portion 611 is configured by, for example, a rod-shaped member vertically provided on the ground.
The roll changer 612 is a rod-shaped member.
The rotating portion 613 is provided at the upper end of the support portion 611 . The rotating portion 613 rotatably holds the central portion of the roll changer 612 in the longitudinal direction.
The attachment portion 614 is a rod-shaped member. The mounting portions 614 are provided at both ends of the roll changer 612 perpendicular to the plane in which the roll changer 612 rotates.
The mounting portion 614 holds the current collector roll 31R by inserting the central portion of the current collector roll 31R.

The splicer 620 joins the ends of the strip-shaped current collector 31B. When all of the current collector rolls 31R are unfolded and all of the strip-shaped current collectors 31B are supplied, finally the ends of the strip-shaped current collectors 31B move toward the chamber 100. FIG. A splicer 620 joins this terminal end to the starting end of the band-shaped current collector 31B obtained by unfolding the plurality of current collector rolls 31R prepared as described above.
As a result, the plurality of strip-shaped current collectors 31B are continuously supplied to the chamber 100 without interruption.

A feed roller 630 is provided between the roll holding portion 610 and the chamber 100 . Feed roller 630 is composed of a plurality of rotating members. The strip-shaped current collector 31B conveyed by the feed roller 630 moves along the plurality of rotating members. As a result, the belt-like current collector 31B is stably supplied into the chamber 100 without being loosened in the middle of the feed roller 630. FIG.

The belt-shaped current collector 31B is supplied to the chamber 100 by the current collector developing device 600 described above as follows. Here, at least two current collector rolls 31R are held by the roll holding portion 610 . It is assumed that a plurality of current collector rolls 31R are provided in the vicinity of the upper current collector roll 31R, that is, in the vicinity of the upper mounting portion 614. FIG.
First, the current collector roll 31R attached to the mounting portion 614 is unfolded as appropriate, and the belt-like current collector 31B is supplied from the current collector roll 31R.

The strip-shaped current collector 31B is normally supplied to the chamber 100 from the current collector roll 31R held on the lower side by the roll holding part 610. As shown in FIG. As described above, when the current collector roll 31R is fully unfolded, the splicer 620 joins the end of the lower current collector roll 31R and the start end of the upper current collector roll 31R. As a result, the supply of the current collector roll 31R to the chamber 100 is switched from the upper current collector roll 31R.

After that, the upper current collector roll 31R is moved downward by the roll changer 612 . Then, the mounting portion 614 on the side where the current collector roll 31R is not mounted moves upward. As a result, the current collector roll 31R prepared in advance on the upper side as described above can be attached to the attachment portion 614 that has moved upward. After this state is reached, the current collector roll 31R prepared near the mounting portion 614 on the upper side is mounted on the mounting portion 614 moved upward.
By repeating this, the current collector roll 31R is switched to continuously supply the strip-shaped current collector 31B without stopping the supply of the strip-shaped current collector 31B to the chamber 100 .

As described above, the strip-shaped current collector 31B supplied into the chamber 100 from the inlet 700 is placed by the current collector developing device 600 and press-molded by the roll press 400. After that, the frame is installed by the frame supplying device 500 . After that, the electrode 30 is formed by appropriately cutting the strip-shaped current collector 31B in accordance with the interval of the frame.

The single cell 20 is formed by appropriately stacking the electrodes 30 (that is, the positive electrode 30a and the negative electrode 30b) formed by the above steps.

As described above, the active material supply device 300 according to the present invention has a crushing mechanism in the crusher 330 . As a result, the lumped active material 32c deposited in the crusher 330 can be powdered. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the active material supply device 300 from being clogged with the active material 32c and from placing the lump-like active material 32c on the belt-like current collector 31B.

The crushing mechanism also has a rotor 332 and a mesh screen 333 . As a result, the rotation of the rotor 332 loosens the aggregated active material 32 c and the screen 333 makes it finer. As a result, the lumped active material 32c can be pulverized more effectively.

In addition, the active material supply device 300 is placed inside the chamber 100 whose pressure is reduced below the atmospheric pressure. Thereby, the powdery active material 32c can be directly supplied into the decompressed chamber 100 . Therefore, air can be prevented from remaining in the active material 32c placed on the strip-shaped current collector 31B. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the active material 32c from being defective in molding after being press-molded.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, the active material supply device 300 may be provided entirely within the chamber 100 .
Further, the frame supply device 500 may be provided upstream of the current collector spreading device 600 in the transport direction of the transport device 200 . That is, the active material 32c may be placed inside the frame 45 after the frame 45 is placed on the strip-shaped current collector 31B.

Also, the active material supply device 300 may be provided entirely within the chamber 100 instead of only the lower portion of the discharge chute 331 .
again,
Also, the axis of the columnar portion 332 b does not have to be parallel to the axis of the rotor 332 .
Further, the crushing mechanism may have a configuration other than the rotor 332 and the screen 333 described above.

In addition, it is possible to appropriately replace the constituent elements in the above-described embodiment with well-known constituent elements without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the modifications described above may be combined as appropriate.

10 battery 30 electrode 31 current collector 31B strip-shaped current collector 32c active material 100 chamber 200 transport device 300 active material supply device 330 crusher 332 rotor 333 screen 1000 manufacturing device

Claims (3)

An active material supply device that supplies a powdered active material onto a current collector that is conveyed in a chamber whose interior is evacuated below atmospheric pressure,
a hopper disposed in the chamber and having a supply port for supplying the active material onto the current collector;
a crushing mechanism arranged in the hopper for crushing lumps of the active material contained in the active material;
An active material supply device. The crushing mechanism is
a rotor that rotates around a predetermined axis;
a mesh screen arranged below the rotor;
The active material supply device according to claim 1, comprising: a chamber whose interior is evacuated below atmospheric pressure;
a transport device for transporting the current collector in the chamber in the longitudinal direction of the current collector;
3. The active material supply device according to claim 1, which is arranged in the chamber and supplies a powdered active material onto the current collector moving in the chamber;
comprising
Manufacturing equipment for battery electrodes.

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